i will probably call the epo's on this for clarification...or perhaps an officer can answer this for me here? the question was posted up in the past but i thought it may be helpful to some to post it again. i want to have a quick duck hunt on thanksgiving morning....but my closeby spots are gonna be locked up with ice. the one place i know close by that i can hunt that morning is a wma stocked with pheasant, making legal shooting time there that day at sunrise?

i read through the past thread on this but i want to make sure i have it correct. from what i read, i can walk out and set up decoys and sit in the blind with an unloaded gun. i just have to wear a hunter orange hat to and from the blind and not shoot until sunrise? am i good to go as long as i abide by this?

I've never understood or liked that regulation. It doesn't make any sense and is not conducive to duck hunters. If shooting hours are 1/2 before sunrise to sunset for waterfowl you should be able to do that anywhere statewide. Just my opinion of course.

A serious reduction in the population of black ducks would mean the end of waterfowl hunting for the majority of the New England sportsmen.

Mike M. wrote:I've never understood or liked that regulation. It doesn't make any sense and is not conducive to duck hunters. If shooting hours are 1/2 before sunrise to sunset for waterfowl you should be able to do that anywhere statewide. Just my opinion of course.

There are a lot of exceptions to the regulations. It is really important for everyone to stay up to date on their laws. For instance, how many people know that every hunting season closes during shotgun deer season, except for waterfowl and coyote?

Mike M. wrote:I've never understood or liked that regulation. It doesn't make any sense and is not conducive to duck hunters. If shooting hours are 1/2 before sunrise to sunset for waterfowl you should be able to do that anywhere statewide. Just my opinion of course.

There are a lot of exceptions to the regulations. It is really important for everyone to stay up to date on their laws. For instance, how many people know that every hunting season closes during shotgun deer season, except for waterfowl and coyote?

Yes but coastal is the only zone open for the duration of shotgun deer season.

My doctor said drinking heavily can lead to a slow death. I said good, I'm not in any hurry.

Mike M. wrote:I've never understood or liked that regulation. It doesn't make any sense and is not conducive to duck hunters. If shooting hours are 1/2 before sunrise to sunset for waterfowl you should be able to do that anywhere statewide. Just my opinion of course.

There are a lot of exceptions to the regulations. It is really important for everyone to stay up to date on their laws. For instance, how many people know that every hunting season closes during shotgun deer season, except for waterfowl and coyote?

Yes but coastal is the only zone open for the duration of shotgun deer season.

True, but the game changes for everyone. That crow that flies over you in the duck blind - illegal to shoot during shotgun deer. That fox that presents you an easy shot - illegal. English sparrows, red squirrels, etc... all illegal. Anyone who doesn't deer hunt might not even bother reading the regulations on them. Definitely a good thing to know going into next week.

There is also that hunter orange requirement as well. Any time you are not in the blind/boat, you need to have 500 square inches of hunter orange on.

how about blowing a duck call while sitting with my unloaded gun in a pheasant-stocked wma 12 minutes before sunrise? im guessing that is a no-go but would like some input if you got it. hell, with all the rain tomorrow and 60 degree temps, it may not matter, but i would still like to know.

Professor_Leakey wrote:how about blowing a duck call while sitting with my unloaded gun in a pheasant-stocked wma 12 minutes before sunrise? im guessing that is a no-go but would like some input if you got it. hell, with all the rain tomorrow and 60 degree temps, it may not matter, but i would still like to know.

I believe that even setting decoys is considered an act of duck hunting, but they give you the pass on that one so that you can be set up and ready to go before legal. Blowing a call before legal hunting light probably wouldn't fly... no pun intended.

I guess it depends on who is there and if they report you. I see bow hunters stay pass sunset sometimes where I go and haven't heard of any getting hassled but I don't want to risk a ticket .I stick with the sunrise to sunset . If it's a holiday then I wait until sunrise to go in ,just in case I jump any so I can shoot.

with today's warm temps and crazy downpours, i think i will be trying one of my regular spots as opposed to the wma....so it may not be an issue this time around. i just have to give myself extra time in the morning in case i need to go to the wma as plan b.

i am hoping much of it melted today and that i can hunt it...and that there are still ducks around, of course.

i cant drive by there now because of some crazy school related deadlines.